The Dogs of Toronto Animal Services South

Second in this week's series of gravitationally challenged dogs is Ralphie who is a Corgi-Jack Russell Terrier cross. Perhaps the best thing about stumpy legged dogs is they can crawl under the bed to fetch all the crap you need to clean out from beneath there. Sure, some of you are thinking: "Huh, I could just train my two year old kid to do that. Don't need no darn dog," but what're you going to do when that two year old discovers chocolate bars and cola, consumes a truck load and blimps out? Won't fit underneath the bed anymore then, will he? And then who'll be laughing with the clean floor beneath the bed? The guy with the Corgi, that's who. So be a man. Get a Corgi.

Ralphie will also nest on your couch, clean your face and stare at squirrels. Food not included.

Update (2012-01-15): I haven't seen this, but I've been told Ralphie can have a pretty reactionary cage presentation with some people which is why he hasn't been snatched up already. The snarly behaviour goes away, though, once proper introductions are made.

The best way to check on the adoption status of this dog (and other dogs and cats and other small domestic animals) is to visit Toronto Animal Services or call 416 338 6668 for the Toronto Animal Services South shelter.

Oh, my!!! These pictures make me want to take him home too (just like Nixon!!)!!!

Fred, is anyone keeping track of the adoption rate on the dogs you've photographed? You do such a fabulous job of capturing the dogs' unique personalities that I imagine people are running, not walking, to TAS to adopt them.

Unless you have DNA evidence, I think I have a better guess: Bassett Hound (look at those feet!) / Australian Cattle Dog (red heeler) mix. That's a cattle dog stare, and the mottled coat and ears look like they were grafted onto him :-)

The last time I took this great little guy for a walk and was petting him, he rolled over in the mud and ice for a tummy rub. I told him he might be more comfy getting one inside, but he was having a lovely time. He's always so happy to be outside, the way he has to run back and tell you about it! I love his intelligent face. Hope he finds a great home soon.

Leave a Reply

A request

The reason for this blog is to help get specific dogs adopted from TAS but equally important is to try to normalize the idea of shelter dogs being just as good and just as desirable as any other dogs including those which are regularly merchandised by backyard breeders, puppy millers and those few remaining pet store owners who still feel a need to sell live animals. The single greatest stigma shelter animals still face is the belief that shelter animals are substandard animals. Anyone who has had enough experience with shelter animals knows this is untrue but the general public hasn't had the same experiences you've had. They see a nice dog photo in a glossy magazine and too many of them would never think of associating that dog with a dog from a shelter. After all, no one abandons perfectly good dogs, right? Unfortunately, as we all know, perfectly good dogs are abandoned all the time.

The public still too often associates shelter dogs with images of beat up, sick, dirty, severely traumatized animals and while we definitely sometimes see victims such as these, they are certainly not the majority and, regardless, even the most abused animals can very often be saved and made whole again.

Pound Dogs sometimes discusses the sad histories some of the dogs have suffered. For the most part, though, it tries to present the dogs not as victims but as great potential family members. The goal is to raise the profiles of animals in adoption centers so that a potential pet owner sees them as the best choice, not just as the charity choice.

So, here's the favour I'm asking. Whenever you see a dog picture on these pages you think is decent enough, I'd like you to consider sharing it on Facebook or any other social media sites you're using (I know many of you do this already and thank you for that). And when you share it, please mention that the dog in the photo is a shelter dog like so many other shelter dogs waiting for a home. If we can get even five percent of the pet buying public to see shelter dogs differently, to see how beautiful they are and how wonderful they are, and to consider shelter dogs as their first choice for a new family member, we can end the suffering of homeless pets in this country.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------